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The stick you use isn't about being flashy, it's about having the right tool to maximize your game. (Lee Weissman)

Boyle Point: Match Stick to Style

by Ryan Boyle | LaxMagazine.com | Twitter

This column originally appears in the July 2014 issue of
Lacrosse Magazine. Join US Lacrosse to begin your subscription
today!

I hate your stick.

Despite my success early in high school, John Tucker, my coach
then at Gilman (Md.) and now with the Boston Cannons, demanded a
change.

Get a new one.

I had wanted a flashy tool with a bold color. Painstakingly, I
coated the white plastic of my Sniper with a metallic silver Paint
Pen.

I selected black leathers with navy blue nylon strings to align
with Gilman's colors. Given its flair, the stick affectionately
became known as "Silver Bullet."

The Silver Bullet utilized a six-diamond arrangement, balancing
the hold of a four-diamond pattern with the accuracy of an
eight-diamond design. My game shared that balance statistically
(goals and assists), but it also included an alarming number of
turnovers. The stick had plenty of pizzazz, but it didn't optimize
my strengths, nor did it facilitate the style of play for which I
was best suited.

"My new stick was as wide as a boat oar and cradled like a pea
on a knife. I had to alter my game to accommodate it, which was
Tucker's intention all along."

The 'boat oar' stick made it -
along with Boyle - onto the cover of an early issue of Inside
Lacrosse.

I have one for you.

He could have said, "Find another one," or "Use your backup."
But Tucker knew better. He was a master of the game with the street
cred to back it up. As a player, he earned All-American honors and
won NCAA championships at Johns Hopkins, gold medals with Team USA,
and NLL titles with the Philadelphia Wings. As a coach, he has led
three different schools to MIAA championships (eight titles
overall) and earned both MIAA and MLL Coach of the Year honors.

While I thought I knew what was best for me, I didn't. Coach
Tucker did, and he provided me with the right stick to match my
strengths.

His prescription: a white Edge with navy blue hard mesh and
three flat, white shooting strings.

My new stick was as wide as a boat oar and cradled like a pea on
a knife. I had to alter my game to accommodate it, which was
Tucker's intention all along. Thus, my introduction to "KYP." Know
your personnel.

Tucker recognized I would be more effective with a different
stick. With a low pocket enabling a perpendicular one-handed
cradle, I could protect my stick and evolve as a ball carrier. The
smooth shooting string progression allowed more consistent and
accurate passes, optimizing my vision and feeding capabilities. The
lack of whip provided a quicker release, optimal for inside
shooting that relies on fakes and placement.

Tucker identified my inherent strengths and gave me a stick that
accentuated those traits. That year, I finished with 88 points and
postseason accolades when we won the MIAA championship. Since then,
with each evolution of my game, I have made corresponding
alterations to my stick.

So how should you pick your stick?

First, master the fundamentals: catching, cradling and throwing.
A wider head maximizes surface area, making catching easier. For
cradling, create a pocket that nestles the ball comfortably. For
passing, accuracy stems from shooting strings that progress from
loose at the bottom to tight at the top. This assembly creates a
smooth transition so the ball naturally flows from the pocket
through the shooting strings to a release point near the top of the
head.

Once you develop specific skills, match stick to style. For
example, Matt Poskay and Paul Rabil have both won MLL MVP honors.
But their strengths differ significantly, and their sticks reflect
these distinctions.

As a pure shooter, Poskay relies on a quick release and pinpoint
accuracy. His pocket resembles a tennis racket, limiting his
dodging ability but creating a swift and true release.

Meanwhile, Rabil and his herculean outside shot require a higher
pocket that nestles the ball underneath his U-shaped bottom
shooting string. Rabil's shooting strings are pulled taut, enabling
him to dodge and shoot with tremendous velocity.

However, over those same two time spans (2008-10 vs. 2011-13),
his 2-point goals decreased from 17 total (.55 per game) to 11 (.28
per game).

If Rabil and Poskay swapped sticks, they would not be the same
players.

Be honest about your game and choose your stick accordingly.
Then you can either do it yourself or phone a friend. You'll find
plenty of instructional videos online. Or you can find your Tucker,
a credible source with the playing or coaching background to know
what is best. Otherwise, most teams (and some families) have a
"stick doctor," someone who strings sticks.

While the lacrosse nation universally appreciates the vintage
Stanwick traditional leather pocket, most don't know that the
family patriarch, Wells Stanwick Sr, personally strings his sons'
sticks. For those without a trusted source (or Wells as a father),
turn to retail stores or online specialists that provide
standardized and custom options.

With endless options, stick selection is one of the most
important decisions a player will make. Know your personnel, your
own game in this case, so you too can dodge the silver bullet.

Ryan Boyle is a six-time MLL All-Star and three-time
Team USA attackman, the co-founder and CEO of Trilogy Lacrosse and
an ESPN college lacrosse analyst.